The most shocking deaths on 'The Walking Dead,' ranked

Kirsten AcunaApr 9, 2021, 22:49 IST

Negan killed Alpha on "The Walking Dead" in a huge moment on season 10.Jace Downs/AMC

There have been more than 50 significant deaths on "The Walking Dead" since it premiered in 2010.
Insider ranked the most shocking major deaths on the zombie drama.
Beth's is easily the one that caught us off guard the most. Abraham and Hershel also top our list.

"The Walking Dead" has said goodbye to most of its original cast, as well as dozens of new favorites since its start in 2010.

While the actors behind many of these roles may have moved on, the fandom still feels the effects of some of their brutal and shocking departures. Insider has gone through every big death on "The Walking Dead" and ranked the series' most shocking deaths.

Our list starts with some of the more insignificant characters whose deaths may have been unexpected but who you had little attachment to, before building all the way up to the ones that really made you jump back in your seat and clasp your mouth.

Keep reading to see the worst deaths on "The Walking Dead" so far, ranked by shock value.

Amy Daire contributed to a previous version of this story.

68. Alek bravely gave his life before he was killed and put on display on a pike by Alpha.

Alek was first introduced after Ezekiel and Carol went on a run to a movie theater. Jackson Lee Davis/AMC

67. Rodney got plucked up by Alpha to get the pike treatment, too.

He was one of the teens at the Hilltop. Jace Downs/AMC

66. Addy got taken down with Rodney as another Whisperer victim.

Addy was probably the nicest out of the Hilltop teens. Jace Downs/AMC

65. Ed Peletier, Carol's abusive husband, was eaten by walkers.

Ed as he spots a walker outside his tent in season one's fourth episode. Netflix/AMC

64. Tammy Rose was among the people the Whisperers put on the pikes.

Tammy Rose joined the show on season nine. Jackson Lee Davis/AMC

63. Ozzy led the charge on the Whisperers to save those kidnapped at the fair and wound up with his head on a pike, too.

We barely knew you Ozzy, but you seemed swell. Jackson Lee Davis/AMC

62. Frankie was also among Alpha's victims taken from the fair and piked.

Frankie was one of Negan's many wives who Eugene befriended during his time at the Sanctuary. Gene Page/AMC

61. Dr. Edwin Jenner took his own life when he stayed inside the CDC as it exploded.

Dr. Edwin Jenner spoke with Rick before his demise in the season one finale. AMC screencap

60. The Governor's researcher, Milton Mamet, was stabbed by his ally after trying to save Andrea and her friends.

Milton before and after he turned into a walker in the season three finale. AMC

59. Andrea's sister, Amy, died after a walker surprised her as she was coming out of Dale's RV.

Amy after she turned in season one, episode four. AMC

58. Carol's former mini-flame Tobin died after he was stabbed by a weapon soaked in walker guts.

For all the ways to die on "The Walking Dead," this was a pretty lame way to go. Sorry, Tobin. Gene Page/AMC

57. Sam Anderson had a panic attack and was eaten alive by walkers.

There was no way Sam was making it out alive after whimpering "mom" in a crowd of walkers at the end of the season six mid-season finale. He perished quickly in season six's mid-season premiere. AMC

56. Ron Anderson, who had just gotten over his issues with Carl, was also eaten and killed by walkers.

Ron Anderson just before he was attacked by walkers in season six's mid-season premiere. Netflix/AMC

55. Brandon got himself killed by Negan after he angered the former Savior leader.

Brandon was killed on season 10, episode five of "TWD." AMC

54. Ex Savior D.J. died trying to save the kidnapped people from the fair. He found himself on a pike, too.

We always thought D.J. kind of resembled the Brawny man. We're going to miss this gorgeous Savior. Gene Page/AMC

53. Earl was bitten by a walker during the fight at the Hilltop against the Whisperers.

Earl knew he had to die on season 10, episode 12 in order for the survival of the next generation. Jace Downs/AMC

52. Mays was betrayed by Father Gabriel just as the unsavory survivor appeared to be turning over a new leaf.

Robert Patrick guest-starred on season 10, episode 19 of "TWD," holding Father Gabriel (Seth Gilliam) and Aaron (Ross Marquand) at gunpoint. Josh Stringer/AMC

51. Gareth led the cannibals of Terminus before getting bludgeoned and hacked to bits by Rick.

Gareth was beaten to death by Rick in season five, episode three. Gene Page/AMC

50. Spencer Monroe's death was pulled straight from the comic series when he was gutted by Negan.

Spencer Monroe after being sliced open by Negan in season seven, episode eight. AMC

49. Oceanside member Beatrice was ripped apart on the season 10 finale by Beta's army of the undead.

Beatrice was on "TWD" from season seven, episode six through the season 10 finale. She was the Oceanside member who wanted to kill Tara when she found their community. Jackson Lee Davis/AMC

48. Dr. Carson was abruptly shot and killed by the Saviors after he tried to play hero.

Carson picked the wrong time to be a hero in season eight, episode 11. Gene Page/AMC

47. Deanna Monroe led Alexandria, but her demise came after facing tons of walkers head on.

Deanna lays in bed as she suffers from a wound in the mid-season finale of season six. Netflix/AMC

46. Simon was choked to death by Negan after he backstabbed him.

Simon's demise finally happened on season eight, episode 15. Gene Page/AMC

45. Michonne was forced to kill her old friend, Jocelyn, when she threatened the lives of herself, Judith, and her unborn child.

Rutina Wesley showed up as a special guest-star on "The Walking Dead." AMC

44. Mays' unnamed brother took his own life after stealing a gun off of Father Gabriel.

Robert Patrick played a second, unnamed character, who went by "Scraggly Man," according to materials on AMC's press site. Josh Stringer/AMC

43. The Governor was stabbed in the chest by Michonne while fighting with Rick.

The Governor before he was stabbed by Michonne in the season four mid-season finale. Gene Page / AMC

42. T-Dog was devoured by two walkers at the prison while saving Carol.

T-Dog gets bit by a walker on the shoulder during season three, episode four. Netflix/AMC

41. Henry received King Ezekiel's comic death. He was the final head revealed on the pikes.

Henry was in Alpha's sights after he went after her daughter, Lydia. Gene Page/AMC

40. Lizzie Samuels was shot by Carol after killing her own sister.

Lizzie talking to Carol in season four, episode 14 before her death. Gene Page/AMC

39. Negan stabbed David in the neck for attempting to rape Sasha.

David just before he was stabbed in the neck by Negan in season seven, episode 15. AMC

38. Just as sparks were starting to fly between Jessie and Rick, she was devoured by walkers.

Jessie Anderson and her son, Sam, before they were eaten by walkers in the season six mid-season premiere. AMC

37. The not-so courageous Nicholas took his life while surrounded by walkers.

Nicholas prepares to shoot himself in season six, episode three. Gene Page/AMC

36. Benjamin died from blood loss after getting shot by a Savior.

A Savior points a gun at Richard before shooting past him at Benjamin in season seven, episode 13. Gene Page/AMC

35. Beta died a swift and quick death at the hands of Daryl on the season 10 finale.

Beta gave himself to his herd of guardians in his final moments. Jackson Lee Davis/AMC

34. Otis was flat out shot and left for dead by Shane.

Otis fights off walkers minutes before Shane betrays him in season two, episode three. Netflix/AMC

33. Laura was brutally killed by Beta when he secretly invaded Alexandria.

Did you even notice Laura was definitively killed by Beta? AMC

32. Tara was also taken by the Whisperers and was found on the pikes.

Tara has been a part of the show for three seasons. On "Talking Dead," she said she only expected to be on the show for three episodes. Gene Page/AMC

31. Mika Samuels was killed by her sister offscreen.

Mika was killed in season four, episode 14. Gene Page/AMC

30. Lucille took her own life before cancer could kill her.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan's real-life wife, Hilarie Burton, joined the cast of "TWD" to bring Lucille to life. Josh Stringer/AMC

29. Bob Stookey had his leg chopped off and eaten by Terminus residents, but it was a walker bite that eventually killed him.

Bob Stookey reveals his bite wound in season five, episode three. Gene Page/AMC

28. Dante was ruthlessly stabbed to death by Father Gabriel.

Dante was killed on season 10, episode eight, "The World Before." Jace Downs/AMC

27. Maggie chose to hang Gregory in front of the entire Hilltop after he threatened her life.

Maggie was done with Gregory's nonsense on the "Walking Dead" season nine premiere. She showed she's not a woman to cross. Jackson Lee Davis/AMC

26. Gavin got stabbed in the neck by Henry.

Gavin was probably one of the nicest Saviors who was just trying to make the best of a poor situation. He would pick a megaphone over a gun any day. Gene Page/AMC

25. Enid was another character who was beheaded by the Whisperers and left on a pike.

Enid had been on the show since season five. Gene Page/AMC

24. Bad cop Shane Walsh was stabbed in the chest by Rick and then shot in the head by Carl.

Rick's old partner Shane Walsh before he was killed in season two, episode 12. Gene Page/AMC

23. Merle Dixon was shot in the heart by The Governor before being killed for good by his brother Daryl.

Merle Dixon before and after he turned in season three, episode 15. AMC

22. Joe, who led the sadistic antagonists of season four, had his neck savagely torn by Rick.

Joe points a gun at Rick before the two start fighting in the season four finale. Gene Page/AMC

21. Walkers tore Shiva apart as she gave her life for Ezekiel, Carol, and Jerry.

RIP you gorgeous CG tiger, you. AMC

20. Negan bashed Glenn's head in with a baseball bat in the brutal season seven premiere.

Glenn before he gets beaten to a pulp by Negan. AMC

19. Sasha committed suicide by taking a cyanide pill given to her by Eugene.

Sasha was killed off in the season seven finale on her own terms. AMC

18. Olivia was suddenly shot dead at Negan's behest.

Olivia stands next to Carl moments before getting shot by Arat in the season seven mid-season finale. Gene Page/AMC

17. Tyreese died after getting bitten by one of Noah's zombified brothers.

Tyreese suffers from hallucinations after loss of blood in the season five mid-season premiere. Gene Page/AMC

16. Negan slit Alpha's throat in a moment straight out of the comics.

Alpha was killed on season 10, episode 12 after being lured into a quiet space by Negan. Jace Downs/AMC

15. The Scavengers were ruthlessly taken out in a spray of bullets at Simon's command.

Fans said their goodbyes to the trash dwellers on the tenth episode of season eight. Gene Page/AMC

14. Beta gutted Mary/Gamma in a shocking twist.

Beta let Gamma turn into a walker on season 10, episode 12. Jace Downs/AMC

13. Sophia was found zombified in a barn after going missing at the start of season two.

Sophia was found dead in season two, episode seven. AMC

12. Lori Grimes died during a hasty C-section birth to Judith.

Lori Grimes says goodbye to her son in season three, episode four. Gene Page/AMC

11. Dale Horvath was disemboweled by a walker after Carl refused to kill it in the woods.

Dale moments before he is attacked by a walker in season two, episode 11. AMC

10. Carl wound up bit by a walker after he tripped and fell in the woods. He then took his own life offscreen in a church.

Fans bid a frustrating farewell to Carl on the ninth episode of season eight. Jackson Lee Davis/AMC

9. Morales was taken out ruthlessly one episode after being reintroduced on the series for the first time since season one.

This one hurt a lot. Gene Page/AMC

8. Noah was eaten by walkers while trapped in a revolving door.

Noah getting attacked by walkers in season five, episode 14. Gene Page / AMC

7. Siddiq was quickly and silently killed by Dante after he was revealed to be a Whisperer in disguise.

Siddiq was surprisingly killed on the final minutes of season 10, episode seven. Jace Downs/AMC

6. Jesus gets stabbed by a Whisperer who catches him off guard.

Jesus let his guard down for a brief moment and it cost him dearly. Gene Page/AMC

5. Denise was shot through the eye with an arrow in the middle of giving a profound speech.

You know you jumped when Denise was hit by an arrow meant for Daryl in season six, episode 14. AMC

4. Hershel Greene was brutally decapitated by The Governor.

Hershel Greene kneels before the Governor before getting decapitated in season four's mid-season finale. Gene Page/AMC

3. Abraham Ford was the first character to die at the hands of Negan and his beloved baseball bat Lucille.

Abraham kneels in front of Negan before he gets bludgeoned in the season seven premiere. Gene Page/AMC

2. Viewers were shocked to see Andrea die from a walker bite.

Andrea says goodbye to Michonne in the season three finale. Netflix/AMC

1. Beth Greene was suddenly shot just as she was being saved from her kidnappers.

Beth Greene right before she is shot by Dawn in season five's mid-season finale. Netflix/AMC

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